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Discovered cancer spot on my lung after covid-19

Posted by togerm @togerm, Jul 26, 2024

I was being treated for shortness of breath which never went away after my at home bout with COVID 19 over a year ago. A scan of my lungs showed a spot which tested to be positive for cancer.
Has anyone had a similar circumstance?

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togerm | @togerm | Feb 11 9:25am
In reply to @finnea "I too went to my PCP over some shortness of breath. After CT Scan a golf..." + (show)
@finnea

I too went to my PCP over some shortness of breath. After CT Scan a golf ball size tumor was found in my right lung. Adnocarcinoma. It hasn’t spread to lymph nodes. My care team offered targeted radiation and surgery. Since my thoracic surgeon says there are too more tiny tumors; he has suggested a lobectomy. I’m scared to death.

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I'm no surgeon, but I would definitely have a long conversation with the Radiologist. I procrastinated between the Surgeon and Radiologist for weeks and am thrilled to have chosen the Radiologist. It's worth the time it takes to get his/her opinion.
Yes, I know how frightening this is. I was there.
Tom

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Mentor
Lisa, Volunteer Mentor | @lls8000 | Feb 11 1:10pm
In reply to @finnea "I too went to my PCP over some shortness of breath. After CT Scan a golf..." + (show)
@finnea

I too went to my PCP over some shortness of breath. After CT Scan a golf ball size tumor was found in my right lung. Adnocarcinoma. It hasn’t spread to lymph nodes. My care team offered targeted radiation and surgery. Since my thoracic surgeon says there are too more tiny tumors; he has suggested a lobectomy. I’m scared to death.

Jump to this post

@finnea , This is understandably a scary time for you, but like all of us, you'll get through it. Considering the size of the primary tumor, it's good that it hasn't spread. I'm assuming that you've had a biopsy to determine the adenocarcinoma. There are many viable treatment options available today, which is great, but also makes decision making difficult.
Are the smaller tumors isolated to the same lung lobe?
Have you spoken with a radiation oncologist? Or a thoracic or medical oncologist yet? It may be interesting to get their opinion.

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Matthew K | @flusshund | Feb 12 5:56am
In reply to @finnea "I too went to my PCP over some shortness of breath. After CT Scan a golf..." + (show)
@finnea

I too went to my PCP over some shortness of breath. After CT Scan a golf ball size tumor was found in my right lung. Adnocarcinoma. It hasn’t spread to lymph nodes. My care team offered targeted radiation and surgery. Since my thoracic surgeon says there are too more tiny tumors; he has suggested a lobectomy. I’m scared to death.

Jump to this post

@finnea, no need to be scared. I believe it's the golf ball-sized tumor that is prompting your surgeon's recommendation for a lobectomy. That's too big to be treated with medication or radiation alone. As a bonus, your surgeon also gets to do biopsies on the tiny tumors.

I had an upper right lobectomy over 6 years ago with the da Vinci II robot. I have four tiny scars, and that's it. I still do deep breathing exercises because we all lose lung capacity as we age, and I'm as active as I was before the lobectomy.

Biomarker testing is the key. Once you know which mutation you have, targeted therapy is possible. I have the EGFR Exon 19 mutation and take a daily pill (Tagrisso). As a result, I've been cancer-free most of these past 6 years.

As I always say, welcome to the club no one wants to join! The good news is that more of us are living longer with lung cancer than ever before. I wish you all the best!

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